The Last King

[Dakota]

Ayesha couldn't believe what was happening, they had come this far, and was it all about to come to a disasterous end, by them drowning, the life sucked out of them.

Anger took hold of her instead of apathy, she could see that Judas had slowed down and wasn't sure what to do ,they had only now, no time to think about things.Kicking harder she came up behind Umoja and unsheathed her claws ripping into his soft fleshy behind. Feeling his body shudder with fright under her paws, it seemed to make him struggle hard enough, and she could see his body finally moving forward.
Ayeshas eyes latched onto her brother and then past to Judas with a begging look, prompting him to just move as fast as he could, the cubs couldn't hold out much longer, let alone them as well.

As soon as she saw his thin body move in right on Umoja's tail , Ayesha moved as quickly as she could, she wasn't even sure Kesho was still on her back, she couldn't feel anything, and her heart was thumping away, her chest getting tighter and tighter.

Feeling the coldness of the cave walls lick the sides of her body as she passed through, her eyes opened wider looking above her. She wasn't sure if she was seeing things or not but it seemed as though something was beakoning her, that the water seemed to have a hue to it, possibly shelter was there.
Ayeshas head was spinning, she was light headed, it felt as though someone was standing on her chest trying to crush it, she couldn't give up, not so close. One last burst of energy she pushed and reached out hard with her paws, feeling a solid mass smack into them. Her head broke the surface as her lungs burnt with pain, and she gasped in the long awaited air.

With her scratchy exhausted voice, she called gently for the prince, at the same time praying he was still attached wraped in her fur.
"Kesho.. can you hear me..kesho"
There was no answer, dread crawled along her spine. Twisting herself with what little energy she had left , the liard used a paw to feel for him. A small tear ran down her cheek to mingle with the river water, I've lost him, I wasn't strong or good enough to keep him safe.
Her paw rubbed into something and she gasped, pulling him forward, she winced as her fur was ripped out as well, but nothing mattered except kesho, was he still alive. Putting the cub gently onto the cold wet floor in front of her, all she could feel was coldness, no movement, no nothing. "Kesho, please wake up, don't leave , come back from wherever you are...kesho".

Feeling more water tug at her body, she wasn't sure what was happening, was someone else behind her, was water going to surge in. Looking back over her shoulder she could see a dark shape coming up towards her,.. panicking Ayesha pushed the prince as hard as she could manage away from the edge out of sight,just as something cold nad hard hit into her, sending he sideways back into the water, all you could see where she had been, was a nail from her claw left embedded in the side.

[cheezeegriff]

(I think everyone agrees its very confusing at the moment. Mostly my fault - sorry. Never intended for that post for Kesho to be encorporated into the RP, but rather, just something to spur you guys into coming back and then be deleted.

I'm going to assume we all made it through the cave and to the path behind the curtain of water, and keep moving from there.)

Umoja struggled up out of the water, pumping into something on the way as he emerged into a bleak, rocky recession in the cliff face. The only light came from the sheet of water falling before his eyes, but everywhere else - especially in the tunnel behind him - was black stone. A narrow, slippery pathway ran to the left, down the cliff face underneath the sheet of water, and on it Usiku stood, using her claws to stop herself from slipping. Judas was sitting by the water's edge, energy drained from his body, and Ayesha...

Umoja looked around, and found her hiding beneath the water with the king. It was she he had hit on the way out. Furiously he reached down and snatched the prince from her paws with his jaws.
"What are you doing, trying to drown him?"
he snapped around the prince, then carried the prince back to the edge.
"Oh no..."
Umoja looked the prince over; a cold, lifeless form, limp as a ragdoll. He spread him on the ground beside Judas and watched for any signs of life.
How could this have happened? What would become of him now? He had no power without the prince no authority, no strength... but... wait... he could see the king's nose moving, ever so slightly, winking in the artificial twilight as air moved in and out of his nostrils.
"Ayesha!"
he said, calling her over.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Usiku watched from the path, desperate to continue - knowing her master was only a short walk away - but also knowing they had to check the prince's health. If he died now, it wasn't likely she would leave her master's presence alive.
"Just a little longer, master,"
she said.
"Just a little longer..."

[Dakota]

She felt pain in her paw as a nail was ripped from its sheath as she tried desperately to pull herself from the coldness of the water. She must have past out for a moment, as she came around she saw Umoja push past her taking the prince from the slippery ledge. Looking over her shoulder she could see nothing dark surrounding her, it seemed it must have been the older lion as he was trying to reach safety as well.

Using both paws she finally managed to heave herself onto the cold ledge, Shaking violently she could see that judas had made it to safety. Looking more closely, she couldn't see Ele anywhere, her heart started thumping and a pain throbbed through into her temples sharply. Hearing screaming noise bounce off the walls, Ayesha looked around sharply, and then realised it was herself screaming at Judas.

" Where's Ele.... what did you do with him... I trusted you to bring him to safety."

Turning around she looked behind her and then back at Umoja
"I have to find him, he can't have drowned, he was a strong brave cub, if kesho made it through, Ayele would have too."
Moving forward quickly her nose was nearly touching his, her eyes kept hold of his not letting him look away.

"I beg of you Umoja, if nothing for me.. help me for the memory of my mother.. help me find Ele ".

[Kirsui]

((OOC: Meh... Sadly enough I think I'll pull out of this RP. I've had a problem playing Kata in this one anyway, as I think I mentioned to Griff sometime. That, and it's been way too long since the last time I tried to play in here that I dunno if I can get her back in character, and last time I posted I was already struggling with her. So... Kata is out.))

[Judas]

Judas’ eyes opened as he heard paws and felt something being laid next to him. He glanced up at Umoja and was about to say something before an angry yell made him cringe and utterly swallow his words. ‘Ele…?’ Judas thought for a moment as if he had forgot who this Ele was in his dazed state. But then it hit him; Ayesha’s brother the little cub he had carried, ‘Damn!’ the warrior cursed under his breath as he pushed himself to his feet, he had been too occupied not to let himself drown that he had forgotten he carried a passenger, weaseling himself over to the ledge where the water and tunnel went, were he was certain Ele would be, or in worst cases his soaked corpse. He peered down into the water, though the darkness made spotting anything quite difficult, although he swore he could see the form of something bobbing a few paces from the shore. “I found him!” the warrior called though his echoing voice was drowned out by a splash as he threw himself into the water snatching the cub by his scruff and pulling him back onto the shore, settling the little one down on the black rock. ‘Why didn’t advocate against bringing kids along for this?!’ Judas muttered under his breath, of course he didn’t want Ele or Kesho to do die but in all honesty they were more a burden than help naturally he wouldn’t dare say that out loud. It may just cost him his life, or worse.

[genie]

Ayele laid there a while not doing anything but then started to give weak and faint little coughs, bits of waters coming out of his mouth. He did't know where he was, why it was so dark but he hurt, his lungs hurt like anything and his head, it was thudding inside his head. He tried to open his eyes but it was no good and he just resigned to lay there, rather gasping for air.

[cheezeegriff]

Umoja was wet; Umoja was cold; Umoja was terrified, his heart still thumping in his chest.

Usiku walked to his side and said frantically,
"My master grows impatient. Quick! We must go: he's not far down this path."

Umoja turned to snap at her. He had heard screaming in the distance, mingled in with the roar of the waterfall, but then his name came out of the mess and pierced his consciousness.

"I beg of you Umoja, if nothing for me.. help me for the memory of my mother.. help me find Ele ".

"Help you find Elle?"
He snapped, stepping forward, leaning over the smaller lioness.
"The king is at death's door and you're worried about some NOBODY!"
The roar sounded strange even in his ears, like someone else was saying them. The evil in them left a sour taste on his tongue. He thought it prudent to apologise, to say he didn't mean it, and opened his mouth to do so.
"You're a whining, lying, flirtatious fool, Ayesha, and the sooner you ground your paws in reality and start looking at the bigger picture the better."
Umoja turned away, looking out into the curtain of water, hiding his face, hiding his shame as the spray settled waterdrops on his whiskers.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Judas came out of the water with the little cub in his mouth, and mumbled,
“I found him!”

Usiku cringed when he lay him back down. She wanted to go, to snatch the cub up and run - but the master wanted them all there. Well, not all, but more than just the prince.
"Ayesha,"
she said after Umoja's anger had been quenced,
"Your brother is safe, but we must go. I smell blood in the water: he's been bleeding."
She glanced at the stricken cub. Indeed, a trail of diluted blood was running from his nose, as he lay on his back, chest moving hardly at all.
"Come, Ayesha, Judas,"
she said, putting her paw on Ayesha.
"We're nearly there."
Without waiting she turned around and picked up Kesho in her mouth, then crawled her way towards the narrow path running down against the cliff face, slick with the slipperiness only eternally-wet rocks have.

"What are you doing?"
Umoja said behind her, finally breaking out of his trance.

Usiku looked over her shoulder.
"Saving his life. What are you doing?"
she mumbled, then continued on her way, hoping the others would follow quickly.

[Judas]

Judas’ ears flopped back as Umoja chastised Ayesha for just caring more for her brother than the king, “I’d watch my tongue if I were you Umoja. No life is worth more than the next. In the end we’re all gonna die, King as well as pauper. Remember that.” Judas tried to hide the growl in his words. “Decides for all we know the good “king” could well already /be/ dead.” Judas shrugged, trailing just behind the assembly having placed the still drenched Ele on his back, while the panther leading the troupe had the prince. “Honestly, King’s don’t make the world go around. Royalty is obsolete it’s the peasants, the common folk and their suffering which drives the world ahead.” His brows knit; Umoja was of the old guard that much was clear. “It’s you who needs a reality check Umoja. Not her!” the warrior gestured towards the liardess, turning to face Ayesha. Although his expression was more or less blank, deep within him he was thinking, ‘Don’t bother with that old fool.’

[Dakota]

Ayesha stood there shell shocked at the bitter words flowing from the old lions mouth that was being directed at her, it was something she hadn't expected after all that had just happened. Didn't he realise that they had all been held up longer in the water, thanks to his fear of following Usiku, that she had waited behind with the prince, to try and soothe his fears, didn't he realise that it was she who had moved him from his stuck postion before he drowned. Bowing her head, a few tears ran freely down her cheeks mingling with her dirty sodden fur.

“I found him!”..
Ayesha swung around at Judas voice, her eyes fell onto the body of the cub, her brother, the one she should have had on her back, not the prince. She only took kesho because she knew Umoja would not have survived with looking after another beside himself.

Slowly she forced her cold paws, half numb and bleeding, towards the wiry lion, Reaching him she knew he was having words with someone else, but her ears blocked out all, her emotions held in check she gazed down upon Ayele. Leaning in closer she could see a thin line of blood trickling down his small face from his nose, his lips were a grey blueish colour, her heart nearly broke there and then. She had killed her own flesh and blood. Her mother had trusted her, had believed in her yet still she had murdered him, thinking she was stronger and better than the others who crossed that raging river, that she would be the one who saved them all.

Giving a laugh that twisted her face into a grotesque feature, she couldn't move instead just hung her head, wondering if she should just slip straight back into that swirling water and see where it took her.

“It’s you who needs a reality check Umoja. Not her!”
Ayesha blinked a few times and moved her head to look at Judas, it was him who had gone back into the water to look for Ele, risking his own life once again. Her paws couldn't, wouldn't move, she just stared at him, too afraid to think, in case that horrible sound came forth from her mouth once more.
And then she heard a noise. Moving in closer she could hear a gasping sound coming from Ele, followed by a small cough, as if he was trying to take a breath. Bringing her face down she started to lick the cub over his face and gently pressing down on his chest, hoping somehow he would know she was with him and he wasn't alone.

Looking back at Judas who was just watching her, she tried to focus on his whiskered face, but tears once more overflowed blocking her vision.
"Dear god Judas, hes bought Ele back to me.... to me.. you as well.. are we actually going to all survive this so called mission you and I started .?"

[genie]

Ayele Laid there, his head swishing around and around, something seemed to being tickling his face, like it was running down it, yet he couldn't muster the strength to know what it was. It also seemed like he was moving, he could feel something, it wasn't cold, oh how thankfully it wasn't cold... the water - it had been so awful. He gave a involuntary shiver and cough a little more. Suddenly there was a warmth around his face, it felt so warm, so comforting, was he dead already? His mum was dead... was he with her? Ayele managed a weak and pitiful cry "Mu...mmy..." before coughing some more.

[cheezeegriff]

Umoja followed the black cat away from the rest of the group, still lagging behind near the cave at the top of the waterfall. By gods, the way was treacherous. He didn't know how Usiku walked so fast, but guessed it must just be practice. The lower they went the faster the water roared past to his right, the spray shooting into his eyes and drenching all the rocks and stones, obscuring his vision of what lay ahead in a white haze.

It seemed to go on like this forever, gettitng worse and worse, louder and louder, until the churning waters at the bottom of the waterfall felt only a few feet below him. At about this time, though, far too deep to be in sunlight, the way ahead became darker still, a black blotch growing out of the misty grey. With horror he realised he couldn't see Usiku anymore, and he stopped, looking back over his shoulder, waiting for the others.

[Dakota]

Ayesha realised that the three of them were now standing by themselves, the panthers with Umoja and Usiku had moved off away from the cave, who knows where Katakasha had gone too, but there was no point in worrying about her anymore, if she turned up ,she turned up, they had other things to keep them occupied with now.

She heard Ayele cry out for their mother, but for now, Ayesha could only hush him gently, they needed to catch up with the others before they were lost down here in this black tomb.
"Judas, come we need to catch up with them. Moving past the lion, the liard carefully placed her paws, the ground was wet and slippery, no need for speed, just slowly does it. She could feel the ground was now sloping down, they were going further into the cave, but one wrong move and the raging torrent still on one side of them could still spell disaster. Shouting back over her shoulder to Judas, she warned him to stay steady with his footing, he had three to only balance on and test the ground beneath him.

Further they went, her fur clamped wet against her skin, she was shivering a little and she had to keep blinking fast to clear her vision. Shaking her head vigorously to get rid of the excess water, she found they were so far down she couldn't see anything in front of her. She knew Judas carrying her brother was still close behind her, as she could hear his heavy breathing and the occassional sound escape from Ele.

[Judas]

The fact that he only had three legs for support would make this part of the journey the most difficult one for him thus far. Even half drowning didn’t compare to this balance act he made sure to keep Ayesha within his sites as he focused all his attention on where he planted his feet. It was going slow, but they were moving forward though the crippled warrior only hoped that this whole order real would be over soon, so they call go home. But then again, where was home? The one they had left was a desolate wasteland, and where they were going didn’t seem any better and much less inviting.

[genie]

Ayele laid being carried, he didn't care what was happening, he just lay there, maybe they'd stop soon, maybe they wouldn't. He didn't care, he felt bad, nearly being drowned it was to be expected. He didn't even open his eyes, not that it mattered, there didn't seem to be much light where ever they were. It therefore figured it wasn't worth seeing by opening his eyes to see.

[Dakota]

Ayesha slowed down, waiting till she felt Judas head bump into her flank. she needed them to keep together. Opening her muzzle she spoke in a loud voice, as she couldn't turn and take her eyes off what was to be every step in front of them.

"Judas, you're doing really well. You don't need to hurry, just take your time, we can do this together, I'm sure Usiku and the other panthers will be waiting for us, their master told them he wanted all of us not just the prince."

Shuffling her paws gave her added traction on the wet cold stoned floor, and so along they moved cautiously not knowing what was ahead.
Ayesha shook her head to clear her eyes and found her paw shot out from underneath her causing her to slide forward faster than she would have liked until something cold and wet stopped her from going anywhere, she had landed against a not moving Umoja.
Biting down on her lower lip, she held her tongue,as the last words from his mouth came back so clearly to her.

"You're a whining, lying, flirtatious fool, Ayesha, and the sooner you ground your paws in reality and start looking at the bigger picture the better."

The liard stood there not knowing what to do or say, his words had hurt her deeply, she had basically saved his life and that was what he had thrown at her. How could have her mother thought so much of this pompus overbearing male, and one she had wanted to get to know more closely, one that could possibly be her father.

Taking a breath once she knew Judas was right there with her, she opened her muzzle and yelled towards his head.
"Umoja, get moving, we can't wait here all day, so stop your stalling and start moving."

She oh so wanted to say so much more, but knew this wasn't the time or place, they needed to move away from this new danger, and move fast.

[cheezeegriff]

(Sorry this is so long. Trying to create the right "atmosphere." Hope you like it! Or rather, hope you don't

"Umoja, get moving, we can't wait here all day, so stop your stalling and start moving."

Umoja grumbled under his breath, then turned around, cautiously walking out of the grey mist and into darkness.

The roaring waterfall gradually deepened to an echoing boom the further he went. The pathway became less steep and broadened, and the mist thinned. Further ahead he could see next to nothing in the pitch blackness, but to the sides and the top, there was only black stone.

They were entering a cave.

A constant sloshing of water competed with the sound of the waterfall, as well as other sounds, like wooden chimes. Something else made his ears buzz and his skin crawl. Umoja looked down and off the path, to his right, squinting into the gloom.

It was a wide cave, and the base appeared to be filled with water, sloshing from the force of the waterfall outside. Broken logs, branches and leaves, fallen from the high waterfall, packed tightly on the water's surface, bobbing and knocking against the walls, creating a symphony of woody notes. But that wasn't all that was down there. Something else floated amongst the logs, and he peered closer...

That's when the smell hit him.
"Gah,"
he said, and reeled away from the edge.
"Animals!"

Unrecognisable, bloated, so rotted and fowl they no longer even appealed to a lion's pallet, the bodies of all sorts of animals crowded for space amongst the decaying wood. Legs poked out here and there, the head of a gazelle, left horn snapped off at the base, peered up at him. Even a large body of a lion lay broken across the logs, inflated body split down the middle, innards glistening in the darkness, wriggling with the life of decay.
Everything - and everyone - who had stumbled too close to the waterfall, it appeared, ended up here.
Then, over the roar of the waterfall Umoja noticed something else.

The buzzing of countless flies. Umoja's skin crawled, and for the first time he realised what it was. He screamed, bellowed, ears ringing with his own voice and crawling on the inside from the little flying insects, but even as he opened his mouth he felt them on his tongue. His whiskers trembled, his eyes itched, but as he neared panic an echoing voice said from ahead,

"Come along, slow ones. My master and your King await!"

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Keshomaliki felt very, very ill, his whole body curled around his aching stomach. He felt he was being carried, he hoped by Ayesha, but when he tried to open his eyes, all he saw was grey, and soon, blackness.

Then his skin began to itch, his whiskers tingle. Someone put him down on hard stone and he looked about as if to protest - couldn't they put him on something soft? - but that's when he noticed them.

One huge, green eye, peering at him out of the gloom.

[Dakota]

Ayesha didn't feel the slightest bit guilty yelling at Umoja like that, her respect for him had long gone, and if he wanted it back he had to prove himself to her, and not judge without using his brains, if he had anything left that was.

Turning to Judas, she glanced over at her brother still laying stretched out on the warriors back, for now he was alive and safe, and that was all that mattered.
"Judas.... he's moving, come ..lets catch up to him quick, we need to all stay together.

Hearing Umoja shriek, made her gasp,and then the smell hit her nostrils. The stench was so overpowering she felt and heard herself start to gag and retch, what on earth were they about to witness.
Bringing her muzzle down to Ayele, she took a quick breath before speaking.
"Ele, stay still on Judas back and take little breaths and whatever you do, keep your eyes closed and do not open then at all, until you hear my voice telling you to."

Moving her head up the neck of the wiry lion she came cheek to cheek.
"Well Judas, are you ready for this ?"

[Judas]

The smell that hit his nostrils almost knocked him off his feet and that would’ve sent him plummeting into the water. Though he managed to keep his compositor, he tried not to look at the creatures though staring was difficult even for him. Sure he had seen what worse was, but got used to it? That he’d never get. Judas snapped out of his trance as Ayesha spoke up, “Sure.” He choked trying to not breathe in to deeply, who knew what kind of bacteria fluttered around in the air down here. Getting sick was the last thing that should happen to them.

[genie]

Ayele was laying still on Judas back but he was not as bad as he had been. He was breathing better and things were not hurting as bad now as he had. But he was feeling drowsy as his eyes were mostly closed and not really alert to things happening around him.

[cheezeegriff]

Umoja looked over his shoulders, back the way he'd came, towards the light. The others were dawdling near the entrance. Up ahead Usiku watched him impatiently. All he could see of her was her large yellow eyes.

The prince was even further inside. Though he wanted nothing more than to tu rn and run in the opposite direction, all Umoja's hopes for a future, for the power the king had brought him... all his hopes for a long, safe life, lay somewhere in the utter darkness before him. So with a mighty sigh through gritted teeth, the old lion made himself walk forwards, through the cloud of flies that stuck to his skin like wet leaves, through the smell, away from the roar of the waterfall and into nothing but stench and cold, dripping blackness.

Only, as his eyes adjusted, he realised it wasn't as dark as he had thought. From the scum on the walls had sprouted a multitude of fungi, mushrooms and plates that grew straight out of the walls, all glowing eerily in the dim light. There was still the stench, still the flies, but his eyes fixed solely on the mushrooms, looking at the only piece of beauty in this forlorn place.

That's why he failed to notice he was walking into a wider lair. Only at the last moment did he look up, and only then did he realise what danger he had wandered into. For sitting opposite a pool of bloated corpses, on a ledge of stone, was the most massive creature he had ever seen.

A crocodile whose size had no comparison. Great and mighty jaws glistening with white teeth. His head, big as a large male lion, poked from scaly rolls, his eyes, narrow and green, peered at him with a knowledgeable smile. His body was broad and fat and made his legs look puny in comparison, and his tail... though it disappeared over the back, it circled back around the front, dangling in the water below, its top ridged with upright, triangular scales.

Usiku pranced over the decaying bodies as if they were stepping stones, leapt up to the crocodile's side and nuzzled him like an old father. Just before that mouth full of teeth lay the tiny, curled form of the prince, looking no bigger than a mouse.

Umoja was just thinking of how he might get the prince away from such terrible danger, but then in a terrifying moment the jaws parted. Its voice was as loud as an elephant's trumpet, it reverberated off the walls and back again, amplified for as long as it spoke until the sound penetrated even into Umoja's marrow. With surprising clarity for a creature without lips, it said, in an impossibly deep, smooth voice,

"Welcome, travellers of the Pride of the Tree. Take rest, be comfortable: we have much on which to speak."

[Dakota]

Ayesha with Judas and Ayele on his back had moved forward and were right on Umoja's heels. She tried not to take big breaths of the putird air, just sucking in small breaths when she needed it, her nostrils flared, willing herself not to gag.

Looking up from the ground she realised Umoja had come to a complete stop and she had just managed to stop herself from hitting his wet fur on his rear. Bringing her gaze up further she side stepped and looked ahead following the older lions gaze.

Ayesha found she couldn't move or speak, she just stared opened eyed, her heart pounding madly at what awaited them.
...this was the master ? she queried to herself, this was the one that was going to cure the prince?..

All that passed though her mind was that they were all about to die, to become fresh food, and what fools they had been listening to the black panther and for being so gullible to have come on this journey..and what for.

[Judas]

The crippled warrior came up beside Ayesha though the sight of the giant croc made him inch a brow, the only facial expression he bore. Some would say that of all here he was the least impressed. Oh sure this scaley thing was bigger than most he had seen so far, but Judas was used to crocodiles considering his former pride's dealings with them. Whether this was a ruse or not, Judas had no intentions of dieing here, and wouldn't leave anyone to die in this place if he had a say in it!

[genie]

Ayele did little in the time as they moved, he still layed there recovering from his near death experience. His little eyes opening and closing slowly, he to some extent took in the situation as it developed.

[Dakota]

Ayeshas eyes got used to the gloomy light in the cavern, after stopping herself from staring at the grossly shaped crocodile surrounded by the panthers. she slowly squeezed past Umoji, who it seemed was glued to the spot.

Her head swiveled back and forth, she couldn't see the prince anywhere, panic started to rise in her chest. Looking back to those deep green eyes, she stopped herself from vomiting and narrowing her eyes, she spat out to those standing before them.

" I want to see kesho, and I want to see him now. You say you were going to cure him, we bought him to you, now where is he."

Lookng around Ayesha started to shout out his name, waiting.

[cheezeegriff]

"Cure him?"
the crocodile said in a deep, booming voice, then turned his great head to Usiku and narrowed his eyes menacingly.
"I believe my messenger may have misrepresented me."
Usiku's eyes filled with dread, and she lowered her head submissively, horror stretched across her face. The crocodile, however, seemed impartial to her suffering, and instead directed his gaze back to the travellers.
"Nevertheless I may be of some help. Your cub is here,"
he said, raising his tail, revealing the little cub only inches from his huge, snapping jaws. Umoja didn't know which was worse: to not know where the cub was, or to see it next to something so deadly.
"And before we get to the matter of his health, I would like to ask you a few questions. I trust nobody here has any complaints in me getting to know my guests.
"First: why have you travelled all this way, for the sake of this little cub?"

The crocodile's eyes swung to Umoja, and he felt them boring into his soul, examining on the inside more than out. He swallowed, and said,

"He is the king's son... without him, our pride would be nothing."
The last word came out as only a whisper, but he nevertheless held his head high.

"Hmm..."
The crocodile's hum rattled Umoja's bones.
"And what kind of King would you have him be?"

Umoja prepared to answer again, but before he did, the crocodile's eyes swung away, to Ayesha and Judas.

[Judas]

The expression on Judas’ face had regained its more neutral stance yet this crocodile didn’t impress him, and if this thing could read minds that would be very clear to it. The crippled soldier didn’t cower neither physically nor mentally; this beast did not scare him the slightest. Some would say he was being foolish and cocky not to respect this being for its power; Judas had no doubt in the creature’s strength just whether or not it deserved any amount of respect. Though this meeting began to smell more and more like a case of betrayal to Judas, Usiku’s face for one gave a hint towards it. Judas didn’t waver as the creature’s attention returned to him and Ayesha, he stared straight back into the creature’s eyes scanning it just as much as it must’ve been scanning him.

[genie]

Ayele squeek from his place of rest, there was this huge fat crocodile in the cave and hide his head beneath his paws, no one had mentioned to him they were going to crocodile never mind a beast like this one. His small body quivered slighty, he was afriad, the other crocodiles, they had tried to eat them, now there was another one bigger than the others.

[Dakota]

Ayesha, swallowed down her fear and held her thoughts, she couldnt just do what she wanted she had Ayele to look after, and he had to come first, no matter how dear the little prince had become to her.

Moving a step, she felt Judas body touch hers, and the feeling it gave her was one, that she wasn't alone, they could get through this together, she felt his strength and determination pass to her. They had travelled this far ans were still together with Ele, it had to count for something.

Licking her dry lips Ayesha meet the crocodiles stare and braced herself for what was to come, she was about to stand up for herself.
"I need to see if the Prince is unharmed, can Usiku bring him over closer to me, I think you owe us that much for what you have put us through ."

[cheezeegriff]

"He's not alright. He's dying,"
the crocodile said, in answer to Ayesha's question.
"But come and look at him yourself if you wish."

Umoja looked at the crocodile's huge jaws, inches away from the small bundle of fur. He looked at the pool of still, dead bodies and floating timber, and then he looked at Ayesha. Was she really going to cross that?

"I see, though, that I must be more direct with both of you. If you wish for my help then you will answer my questions. If you do not wish to answer, then you may take your king and go, but he will surely die. I may not be able to cure him, but I do now how to treat him indefinitely, and I will pass that knowledge onto you. But in exchange, I want knowledge from each of you. That is my trade.

"So I ask you both again, Judas and Ayesha: What hopes do you have in this little king of yours?"

Umoja's stomach felt as heavy as stone, and his eyes glanced back and forth between Judas and Ayesha. He was glad - very glad - that this particular question was not directed at him.

[Dakota]

"come and look at him yourself if you wish."
she heard the crocodile taunt at her. Swallowing down her fear and unease, Ayesha leant closer to Judas and whispered.
"If anything happens to me, take Ayele and just turn and run, I don't care where, just go and go far, I trust you to take care of him, till he can look after himself."

Taking a step forward, she hesitated once, but held her head high and made to move past Umoja, but once more paused and leaned towards him.
"looks like I'll never find out if you are my father or not..good luck Umoja".

Standing now at the side of the mass of rotting and decay. Ayesha willed herself not to vomit at the smell rising up to her nostrils, she knew she could do this.. she had to do this, Kesho was there alone, he needed someone who cared, to be with him.
Gritting her teeth and concentrating, she eyed everything floating and picked out the biggest items she thought were the sturdiest. Taking a breath she pounced, her claws digging into floating timber, then on again to some sort of carcess. She started to slide off the flesh, but dug in hard and lept onto more wood, one at a time till finally she was standing before the hideous creature with the black panther still by his side.

Growling at her, wishing she could rip at her throat for all she had done, Ayesha turned away with a snarl, meeting the 'masters' eyes.'
"Will you move your face away from kesho, I need to get to him and you're still hovering over him. do you wish to scare him to death ?"

Starting to lower her self down to Kesho, Ayesha stopped when she heard his next words.
"So I ask you both again, Judas and Ayesha: What hopes do you have in this little king of yours?"

Lifting her head, Ayesha stared at his piercing eyes,then looking to Usiku, and back again.
"What hopes do I have...why do you think we undertook this journey, just for the fun of it...or we were bored and thought we might liven up our lives. Ohhh wait...I know... I wanted to kill a few on the way, and help Judas loose a limb.. oh yes that was it."

By this time Ayesha was on a roll, her anger making her shake as she kept staring at the crocodile.
" The hopes I have for Kesho, is to be cured, to be a lively and happy prince, to have guidance from those who care for him till he can become a great king, to have his own pride and lead with his head held high, to lead with honesty and integrity.... "
Ayesha blinked suddenly breaking the spell, realising that all around her was now silent.